2014 Ktm 1190 Adventure R on 2040-motos

KTM Other description

2014 KTM 1190 Adventure R, Available Dec 2013. Put a deposit on them now. 503-769-8888As the ADV market has matured, the bikes have evolved into quasi sport-touring machines that can competently handle light off-road terrain. None of them, though, have ever been able to go blow for blow with KTM s 950/990 Adventures in the dirt. The flip side of this? The big KTM Twins were seriously lacking in features, overall comfort and on-road performance. But after riding the brand-new KTM 1190 Adventure on the island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands earlier this year, I saw that KTM had begun addressing these issues. The engine, chassis, electronics, handling and rider comfort had all improved dramatically. One big question, however, remained: Would the yet-to-be-released R version maintain its huge advantage over its competitors in off-road handling and composure?
Having just spent two mostly off-highway days on the new R at its press launch in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, I can state unequivocally that the off-road-oriented bike lives up to the reputation earned by its predecessors. KTM has managed to make a huge leap forward with the new-generation R as a streetbike, while also simultaneously improving the 1190 as a dirt machine.
KTM s Adventure has always defied physics; it feels far more lithe in the dirt than any 500-pound machine has a right to. One of the key attributes is a chassis that instills confidence in the rider, which means it s easier to ride at an aggressive pace you d never try on some of the competitor s bikes.
For riders who ride most of the time on the road, the single most noticeable improvement will be the engine. But for those who spend a larger chunk of time on the dirt, it s the ABS. KTM s Bosch 9ME combined-ABS is the perfect complement to a great chassis. Unlike BMW s R1200GS, which requires a little plug-in dongle to access Enduro Pro mode, the KTM (when stopped) allows you to quickly scroll through the menus on the info screen and switch ABS to Enduro mode. In this mode, the rear wheel is allowed to lock and the front is tuned to bite more.
2014 KTM 1190 Adventure R static side view
On the 1190 R, gone are the days of grabbing the front brake off-road and discovering a bike that seems to freewheel while causing panic with dramatically longer stopping distances. Get into an off-camber downhill corner a little hot on the 1190 R, and you can brake aggressively even trail brake without fear of locking and tucking the front. A little brake slide will also help get the bike turned. Further experimentation with panic braking on dirt revealed that a huge, four-finger handful of front brake could be grabbed and the 1190 R would stop quickly and safely without any drama. The Continental TKC 80 knobby front tire would grab and release as the ABS cycled quickly, the steering remaining light and controllable the whole way. It may be possible for a world-class rider to stop quicker with the system off, but certai